If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Edinson Volquez's first start was a good one. He went five shutout innings, allowing three hits and walk. He struck out six. 69 pitches, 47 strikes.

The Reds took a 2-0 lead on Ken Griffey Jr.'s two-out, two-run single in the sixth.

Volquez lowered his spring ERA to 3.46. Most impressive: 19 Ks and 3 walks in the 13 innings.

He retired 11 of the first 12 he faced -- five by strikeout. His change-up was fooling guys big time.

He went to a 3-ball count on Jimmy Rollins before striking him out to start the game. Volquez wouldn't go to a 3-ball count until facing Ryan Howard with two outs in the fourth. Howard ended up singling. Jayson Werth followed with a single, but Volquez struck out Geoff Jenkins for his sixth strikeout to leave them runners stranded.

Volquez threw 10 pitches in the 1-2-3, 2-strikeout second, eight of which were strikes.

Volquez was at his best in the fifth. He got a routine groundball on the first pitch. But Brandon Phillips booted it. He walked the next hitter. But he got out of it. Brett Myers popped up trying to bunt. Rollins hit into a fielder's choice and Shane Victorino grounded out.

Edinson Volquez wasn’t content to shut out the Philadelphia Phillies for five innings on three hits on a day with humidity so thick you could bite it and chew it.

After displaying another dazzling imitating of Pedro Martinez, he did his Lance Armstrong act, riding a bicycle at full-pedal for another 30 minutes.

Volquez possesses four pitches, “All of of which he uses at all time and isn’t afraid to throw to anybody at any time,” said catcher Javier Valentin. “But his changeup is his best.”

Indeed, in the first inning Volquez struck out National League Most Valuable Player Jimmy Rollins on a changeup to open the game, then struck out Ryan Howard on a changeup to end the inning.

“When I signed, I was afraid to throw the changeup,” said Volquez. “I knew the grip, knew how to hold it, but I was scared. I wanted to throw as hard as I could. I thought if I threw soft, they’d hit. I’m older and wiser now.”

And much better. In four appearances this spring, he has pitched 13 innings, giving up five runs, 15 hits, three walks and struck out 19. He fanned six Phillies and swalked one in five innings Sunday, throwing 69 pitches, 47 for strikes.

Are Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto separating themselves from the rest of pitchers competing for the rotation?

"You want me to say it or are you going to say," Baker said. "They're pitching like they belong along side (Aaron) Harang and (Bronson) Arroyo in the rotation. They're dealing. They came in ready to pitch. They played Winter Ball so they're ahead, not so much with velocity but with command. That's what you need. They're pounding the strike zone. If you walk people, you have no chance. If you get behind people, you have little chance.

"We need them."

There you have it: If season started today, the rotation would be Harang, Arroyo, Cueto, Volquez and probably Josh Fogg.

. They came in ready to pitch. They played Winter Ball so they're ahead, not so much with velocity but with command. That's what you need. They're pounding the strike zone. If you walk people, you have no chance. If you get behind people, you have little chance.

Have to hope that Baker really did learn something from the Prior/Woods days. Have to hope that, in any event, there are directives from WK mandating certain parameters for Volquez and Cueto in terms of usage and pitch count.

That said, I am pretty pumped at the notion of having those two in the rotation. It's a far cry from Dave Williams/Jimmy Anderson/etc./etc./etc. anyway.

Have to hope that Baker really did learn something from the Prior/Woods days. Have to hope that, in any event, there are directives from WK mandating certain parameters for Volquez and Cueto in terms of usage and pitch count.

That said, I am pretty pumped at the notion of having those two in the rotation. It's a far cry from Dave Williams/Jimmy Anderson/etc./etc./etc. anyway.

I'm excited too and these arms are obviously building blocks, but the point about them playing winter ball and being ahead of the competition has some validity. This dominance is likely a spring mirage, but they could still both be effective in a league average or a little better kind of way.

"All I can tell them is pick a good one and sock it." --BABE RUTH

Having better players makes "the right time" or "the big hit" happen a lot more often. PLUS PLUS

Um, league average? I would turn cartwheels if the Reds could get league average behind Arroyo and Harang. And then dance a jig.

My expectations are certainly not a mirror of what they have turned in this spring, just an aching hope that they can provide stability, competence, and occasional stretches of excellence for the back part of the pitching staff.

Um, league average? I would turn cartwheels if the Reds could get league average behind Arroyo and Harang. And then dance a jig.

My expectations are certainly not a mirror of what they have turned in this spring, just an aching hope that they can provide stability, competence, and occasional stretches of excellence for the back part of the pitching staff.

We're on the same page.

"All I can tell them is pick a good one and sock it." --BABE RUTH

Having better players makes "the right time" or "the big hit" happen a lot more often. PLUS PLUS

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most
importantly, enjoy yourselves!

RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball